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What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a progressive condition affecting patients whose heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of their body. Unlike other common cardiac disorders, such as heart attacks (myocardial infarctions or MI) or arrhythmias (abnormally fast or slow, or irregular cardiac activity), the heart does not suddenly lose its function, but, usually, weakens gradually over a period of time.
In the early stages of heart failure, the heart and the vascular system (veins, arteries and capillaries) might compensate for the weakening of pumping activity, producing only mild to moderate symptoms. Over time, this burden causes the heart to enlarge and the heart muscles to weaken further, limiting the amount of blood that can be pumped throughout the body.
The contraction of the heart muscle can become disorganized, with different parts of the heart contracting at different times, reducing pump efficiency. A vicious cycle begins and symptoms worsen when the body cannot adjust to small additional burdens, such as light exercise. At this stage other organs become involved, with fluid accumulating in the lungs, feet and legs, and even the abdomen.
